I am still trying to decide where to install the MC reservoir. If I leave it on the MC I can fill it thru a hole in the floor under the seat, but it won't be very easy to access. I have three options that I can see for remote position: 1st, in the engine compartment, that would take 3-4 feet of 1/2 hose to connect it to the MC; 2nd, in the corner of the cab behind the seat; or 3rd, under the bed next to my fuel filter and I can raise the bed to access it. My only concern for under the bed is if it might be more exposed to water there. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Mark

 

Behind the seat. Protected and out of the way for the most part. Easier to access too.

 

Another way to look at is how many times do you actually need to access it?

 

X2


Floor access works for my trucks/cars

 

Is the remote reservoir translucent?

 

I mounted mine on the firewall - Even tho you don't need to access it often, on the firewall you can see the levels every time you open the hood.

Make sure you use hose specified for brake fluid - It took me 3 tries to find hoses that wouldn't weep after a while.
Ken

 

The easiest by far would be to leave it on the MC. The reservoir is translucent. The fill cap on the reservoir will be just under the back edge of the seat with it all the way forward and about 1/2" below the floor of the cab. If I left it on the MC I would want to cut a larger hole in the floor than the stock MC access. I am not sure what I would use for a cover. If I mount it remote, I have already talked to an engineer at the local Aeroquip plant and their hose with an AQP tube would be brake fluid compatible. It is not DOT approved for brake lines, but I think it will be fine for a supply line from the reservoir. Decisions, decisions.
Thanks, Mark

 

I have to agree with flattie39. Opening the hood reminds me to check the levels, but yeah the extra feet of hose is kind of a pain.

 

I'm going with the same setup that Flattie39 has. But I would go with a larger door in the floor like this one (Billet Rectangular Fuel Fill Door) except maybe not polished. Search for "fuel fill door" with Google and you will find lots of different types and sizes. You may want to get at the top of the master cylinder one day. Once the cab is in place that is a problem unless you have an access door.

 

I've owned a number of motorcycles with remote reservoirs, so I'll offer this. Where do you want to slosh brake fluid? Because sooner or later, either when filling, or bleeding, or whatever, it's going to get all over the area around the reservoir. On one bike they put it where it was very accessible, but right above a painted panel. Sure as hell it burped a teaspoonful onto the paint, ruined it. I'd put it where it can leak onto the ground if you overfill it.

 

Did you file an environmental impact statement when you did that?


P.S. You are right Ross. Of course if you used DOT5 silicone fluid . . .

 

Most bikes do use DOT-5, and for that very reason. But they hold less than a pint in their whole systems, the added cost doesn't matter.

 

I vote for the firewall. To me brake fluid is something that should be readily accessible. I drove my truck for a while with the MC reservoir under the floor and I found it a real pain to bleed the brakes that way.

Fwiw, this is my setup, though it's an unconventional build:



I used to have dual master cylinders up under the dash. I put the reservoirs where the ash tray goes, to get them higher than the MC's. Sure enough, more than once I had brake fluid dribble down the dash onto the shifter!



I think I might have seen some pics above with people using what looked like Tygon-type tubing to feed fluid from the reservoir to the MC (clear plastic)? If so, I do not think this is a good idea. The fluid will eat through those lines eventually. One should really use something labeled specifically as "brake fluid hose". A quick web search shows many options.

Gustave

 

Gustave, What reservoirs are you using on yours, Are they spun aluminum?

 

Thank you for all the replies, I appreciate and value your input. I have decided to leave the reservoir on the MC. I did figure out that there is room under the seat on the passenger side to mount it above the floor and run hoses to the MC. I could have accessed it by moving the seat all the way forward. But, as Ross said, I would rather spill brake fluid on the ground or shop floor than on the cab floor or another painted surface. I drilled a 3" hole above the fill cap so I could use the original type master cylinder cover. I am thinking that I would like a larger access hole. I could make an oval hole and use a '53-'56 BAAA-8111136 master cylinder cover, but I don't know if it is enough larger to make it worthwhile. Since the access hole is partially under the seat, I can't use a hinged cover. Here are some photos:


The silver line across the access hole is the back of the seat moved all the way forward.

The fill cap is fairly large, it is removable thru the hole, but getting your fingers in to remove it is a very tight fit. I could make a larger rectangular cover, or I have even thought of using a battery well cover from a '53-'55. Could someone post some dimensions of the opening for the '53-'56 master cylinder cover and the battery well opening dimensions for the '53-'55? Is the '56 battery well larger? It takes a different cover.
Thanks for all the help, Mark